Conveying apparatus



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VPatented Sept. 23, 1884;.

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G. C. BLICKENSDERFER.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.'

' No. 305,566. Patented Sept. 23, 1884.

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(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

" Gr.' C. BLICKENSDERFER.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 23, 18821.4

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G. C. BLIGKBNSDERPER.

GONVEYING'APPARATUS.

N0.. 305,566. Patented sept. 23, 1884. l farm?? ,fplf

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7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

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G. o. BLICKENSDBRFER. ooNvBYNe APPARATUS.

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Z-nweazar- Patented Sept. 23. 1884.

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GEORGE O. BLIOKENSDERFER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

QPECIICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,566, dated September 23, 1884.

Application filed August 23, i884. (No model.l

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. BLIoKnNs` DERFER, a citizen of the United States,resid ing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveycr Apparatus, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of conveyer apparatus in which the tracks are suspended or elevated and the article to be carried hangs pendent from the track and it consists in the following improvements: First, improvements in the construction and operation of the elevators7 by which the cars are put upon the outgoing track at the stations and received from the incoming track and let down onto the counter at said stations; second, improvements in the construction of the cars; and,third,improvements in the means for erecting the tracks.

The device,as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,is designed especiallyfor carrying packages and cashin stores; but by proper `modifications, which would be purely mechanical. it may be adapted to the transportation of weightier articles. y

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention as follows:

Figurel is a perspective view of the tracks, clevator,and car at a salesmans station. Fig. is a continuation of Fig. l, the letters .fc x an x marking the points of connection of the tracks B and B. The remaining` twenty-three iigures represent details of construction or of operation of parts, and will be best understood by referring to them in the proper connection in the following description.

.A is the track which grades fromthc sales- V'mens stations to the central stationor cashiers desk.

B is the track which grades from the central station to the salesmens stations.

B is the switch-track at a salesmans station.

C is the elevator-track, and consists of a plain smooth vertical bar upon which the elevator slides as it moves up and down.`

Dis the elevator frame or body, which-is provided with proper guide-anges for embracing the track O. (I have shown hanged friction sheaves d d d d, but simple guideflanges will perhaps be sutcient.)

D is the secondary part of the elevatorframe. lt consists of a bar hung to the main frame D by links d d, so that it can swing toward or from the tracks.

D', at right angles thereto.

P is a pin extending from the swinging bar D, and serves as a handle by which the frame D can be swung. The elevator is further illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and 16, of which Fig. 9 is a side elevation, looking at the side seen in Fig. 1, the track C not being shown. Fig. 10 is an elevation view,looking directly at the back of the elevator, and Fig. 16 is an elevation of the side not seen in Fig. 1, and shows the swinging frame drawn back. The swinging bar D is kept from moving laterally by a guide-lug, d", the under side of the bar bemovement of the bar within the guide d5. W'hen the elevator is in position toreceivc a car, it will stand so that the bar DZ will -form a continuation of the switch track B, as indieated by dotted lines in Fig.. l. when received, will stand with its wheels Hl H2 in the depression d2 in the bar D2. The turned-up end of the bar D serves as a stop for the car.

P to swing the elevator-frame. The cam F swings the frame out, so as to bring the earwheels H H over the track, allows it to drop squarely onto the track, and after the car is onthe track it swings the frame back, so as to entirely clear the car. This cam is seen in perspective in Fig.v l, and insidie elevation in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, andfiu rear elevation in Fig. 6. Figs. 3, 4, and"5, show the elevator in dotted lines, and Figs. 3 and Li show the running-gear of the car. These figures fully show the construction and `operation of the cam F. It has three fixed guides, fz, f3, and ft, and two movable guides, fandf, which are pivoted Their changed positions are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The guide f, when down, as seen in Fig. 2, forms, with D2 is a section of track attached to the bar ing properly curved, as at d", to allow of the The car,

F and G are cams which act upon the pin IOI ` them in between the flanges f 2 -will run down the guides f2 the flange f2, a continuous guide, its point resting on the miter-face 1 at the lower end ofthe iiXed iiange f2. When up, as seen in Fig. 3its point stops against the face 2 at the lower end of thegXed ange f 2, and when in this position its lower surface forms a guide. When the elevator is pulled up to the full height, it is in the position shown in Fig. 3. Its pin P has lifted the pivoted guides f and f, as shown in that iigure,and been guided by r and f2. The guides f and f of course' drop back to their normal position as soon as the pin passes them. It will be seen in Fig. 3 that the car is so high that the wheels H are considerably above the track A. The'operator now lowers the eleva# tor slowly. The pin P will strike on the top of the guidef and move down its incline and swing the bar D2, on which the car is seated, out, so as to bring the wheels H directly over `the track A and seat them on it, as is shown in Fig. 4. As the elevator descends the pin P and f and draw the bar D2 of the elevator` back to the frame D,so it will entirely clear the body of the car. This position is clearly seen in Fig. 5. As the elevator descends it is caught by the cam G in such a position that the bar D2 will form a continuation ofthe track B, and thus it-is in position to receive an incoming car. When in this position, the pin P rests in the hook g2, as it is seen in Fig. 13.

The cam G is shown in Fig. 7 by a side elevation, showing the same side as is seen in Fig. 1.Jr

Fig. 8 is a back view. In Figs. 11, 12, 13,14, and 15 the saine view is shown as in Fig. 7,

with the elevator ad ded, in dotted lines. These iigures show the movements of the elevator cffected by the cam.

It should here be stated that B3 is a gate or stop which serves to stop an incoming car on the track B when the elevator-bar D2 is not in f position to receive a car from the track B. The gate B3 stops and retains the car until the elevator comes into the position j ustabove described,

Y and when this occurs the notch b2 on the bar D2 engages inthe notch b on the gate B2' and tips the gate down, so as to allow the passage of a car. Y. Fig. 13 shows this position of parts. The engagement of the notches b b2 serves to hold the end of thebar D2 against lateral movement as a car runs onto it from the track B. After a car is received ou the bar D2 the elevator has to belet down to bring the car down tothe counter. must be such as to release'the bar D2 from the gate B2, and this is effected by an upward and outward and then a downward movement, so that the bar D2 moves up into the position shown in Fig. 14, then oft into the position shown in Fig. 11, then down under the track B into the position shown in Fig. 15. When the elevator is drawn up to put a car on the track A, it has to be moved so that the bar D2 will swing out around the end of the track B and the end of the gate B2. All the aforesaid movements are effected by cam the G acting up In doing this the movement" along it, and passes the point of the movable or pivoted tongue g2 and comes to a stop in the hook g2. When in this position, as above stated, the bar D2 is in position to receive a` car from the track B. The tongue g3 is kept in theposition shown by the weighted lever g2, and as soon as the pin Ppasses it it moves back into place, as shown. When the elevator is to belet down,`so as to bring the car onto the counter, it is iirst raised up, so that the pin P hits upon the under side of the tongue g2, and as it is pulledk farther up the pin moves along the under side. oi' the tongue and displaces the lever g2 and passes ,out beyond it into the angle 96. This movement is shown as occurring in Fig. 14. The elevator is then allowed to descend, and in doing so 1 the pin P runs along the guide-face g', as is shown in Fig. 15.

H is the car or basket in which the articles to be carried are placed. The running-gear of the car is attached to the bail of the basket.

.It consists ofthe wheelsH H, which traverse the main tracks A and B, and the wheels H2 H2, which run only on theswitch-track B. The construction of the vrunning-gear of the basket is shown in detail in Figs. 17 and 18.

which is movable vertically on a main stem of the frame H5. A spring, h2, is provided to move the part H4 up, and a trigger, la', is provided to engage with, a catch-pin, h, and hold the part H2 down. The trigger h is providedv with a spring, h2, by means of vwhich it will engage with the pin h when brought in con- `tact therewith. On the lower part ofthe part H2 there is a claw, h2, whose office will be explained farther on. The wheels H2 H2 are journaled on tiXed studs extending up from the bail of the basket. Guide-rollers H3 H2 are provided which operate upon the guides The car, f

B2 B2 at the points of the switches. as it will stand upon the arm D2 of the'` elevator, after being received upon it, will have the parts of its running-,gear in the position shown in Figs. 417 and 18. When the eleva- IOO -The main wheels H H are on a part, H",

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tor is pulled up to the top, the part H4L will Y,

come in contact with the block a2 on the arm A at the point c2, between. the wheels H H. This will push the part H4 down on the part H5, depressing the spring h2, and allow the trigger h to engage the pin h. The parts will then be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and will so remain until the car has gone to the central station on the track A and been put onto the track B and returned to the point of the switch B, where the arm h2 will come in contact with the upper end of the trigger h, and move' it so it will be disengaged Ffrom the pin h. When this'occurs, the spring h4 will throw the part H and wheels H H up, and the car will drop, so that the wheels H2 H2 will set on the switch-track B', and on these wheels the car will run onto the bar D2 of the elevator. When the part H4 is thrown up, `the claw 7b2 will embrace the lower side of the switch-track loosely and prevent any possible tderailing of the car.

When the car runs `onto the bar D2, the claw h3 will strike against the lug d on the under side of the bar, and thus It should be `understood in this connection that when the car is once on the bar D2 it does not have to be removed therefrom to empty and refill it. It

'is let down by the elevator to the counter, and

can there be emptied and reiilled, and then be raised up to the track A, where the trigger is reset by the action of the block a2 on the-part H4, as above explained.

By the side of the track A opposite the station I put a guard, c, which insures a proper placement of the wheels H H' on the track.

The receiving and dispatching of the-cars at a station requiresvery little care or attention from the operatorw-in fact, it is almost impossible todisplace or derail the car, even with the most careless manipulation.

Fig. 19 is a perspective View of the means I provide for running a car under its own track. .-This is Voften desirable, especially where the tracks are made of taut Wire, for the lines of wire will be erected, usually, in straight lines, and it will often be required to run the'car off on another track into the central station, and where the stem of the carframe hangs down on the side of the main line, opposite the point where the central station is located, the car must be got across the main wire. "Io accomplish this I put in an archiron', J, which is suspended by a hanger, J'. Ihe wire passes over the arch in a groove, j', and is held at the foot of the arch on each side by pins j.

Figs. 20, 2l, 22, 23, and 24 illustrate an improved track-hanger. `Heretofore the hangers Y have been connected with the track by viselike clamps.

Vherc the wire forming the track is small a vise-like clamp is not reliable, as it is diftcult to make it hold the wire without embracing it entirely, and thus forming an impediment upon the track. The improved clamp here shown consists of a block, I, with a groove, t', in its upper face, which is rounded, so as to not obstruct the car-wheels. The groove i in the middle of the block is depressed, and the wire can be deflected into this depression and secured by apin,f', which passes over it.

Fig. 2O is a perspective view. Figs. 21 and 22 are longitudinal sections on the line y in Figs. 20 and 24. Fig. 23 is a transverse section on the line x a@ in Fig. 1, and Fig. 2-1 is an end view showing a car-wheel tread.

What I claim as new is.-

1. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination,

. substantially as set forth, of two main tracks,

Aand B, a switch-track, B', communicating with the track B, an elevator track .or way standing vertically by the-side of said tracks, an elevator having a laterally-movable frame carrying a section of track on which cars are received from the track B', and, finally, a cam opposite the track A, which will move the said movable frame laterally -as the elevator moves vertically, substantially and for the purposes described.

2. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, .of two main tracks, A and B, a switch-track, B', communicating with the track B, an elevator track or way standing vertically by the .side of said tracks, an elevator having a laterally-movable frame carrying a section of track on which cars are received from the track B', and, finally, two cams-one placed opposite the track A and the other opposite the track B'-wf;hich move the said movable frame laterally as the elevator` moves vertically, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

3. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of two main tracks, A and B, a switch-track, B', communicating with said track B, an elevator track or way 1 having thereon an elevator which carries on a laterally-movable frame a section of track, the gate B3 at the end of the track B', and, tinally, the cam G, for moving the said movable frame laterally, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a conveyer apparatus, the track A, the vertical elevator-way C, the elevator D, having a laterally-movable frame carrying the-bar D2, the cam F, and the block a2, in combination with a car having wheels H' H on the movable part H2, and the trigger-catch h h', substantially as set forth.

5. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination,

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with the track A, car H, and elevator D, having a laterally-movable frame which supports said car, and the pin l), of the cam F, having IIO the guides f, f', f2, f3, and f4, substantially y as and for the purposes mentioned.

6. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination, with the track B', gate B3, and the elevator D, having a laterally-movable frame which supports the car-receiving bar D2, oi the cam G, having the guides g g' g2, gate g2, hook g2, and weighted lever g5, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination, with the switch-track B', of the bar D2, swinging frame D', and elevator-frame D, substantially as described.

8. In aconveyer apparatus, the combination, with the switch-track B', of the gate B3, with hook b", the car-receiving bar D2, with notch 152, mounted on the swinging frame D', the elevator D, the pin P, andthe cam G, substantially as described.

- 9. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination, with the car H, having tipping main wheels H and switch-wheels H2, of the elevator-bar D2, having depression d2 and stopt?, substantially as described.

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receiving bar or track-section on a laterally` movable frame, and cams for moving said movable frame laterally as the elevator-car moves vertically, said parts forming said elevator de-` vice being arranged to operate in a manner substantially as described, whereby the eleva-j tor-car can be placed so as to receive the car Hon its Wheels H2 H2 on the car-receiving bar from the switch-track B, lower it down to the counter, raise it up to'move it over and place it uponthe trackAon its Wheels H H',

While resting on its Wheels H2 H2 on the said car-receiving bar.

11. In a conVeyer-apparatus car, the combination,fwith the wheels H2, stem H5, catchpin h, and spring 752.01 the Wheels H, sliding part H4, catch-trigger h', and spring h2, substantially as described.

12. In a conveyer-apparatus car, the 'combination, with the Wheels H2 and the sliding 25 part H4, bearing the Wheels H', of the claw h3, substantially as described. p

13. In a conveyer apparat-us, the combination, with a taut-Wire track', of the arch-iron J, substantially as and for the purposes mentioned,

14E. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination, With a taut-wire track, of a hanger-clamp consisting of the block I, With rounded top, and groove z', and the pin i, substantially as set forth. A

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEO. C. BLICKENSDERFER.

Witnesses:

JNO. K. HALLocK, ROBT. H. PORTER.- 

